Information on the Dangers of Scalding Water & Hot Water Burn Injury

This month we covered the tragic story of a Pearland baby who suffered serious injuries from a tub of scalding water. According to the teenaged babysitter who was caring for the child, the one-year-old baby was in a tub filling with water when it turned the hot water faucet on all the way. The sitter immediately called 911 and the child is being treated for serious burns on neck, back, and chest.

This Texas burn injury story is an important for all parents to hear: not all burns are caused by fire, and even your own water faucets have the potential to harm. Scalding, either from hot water or from steam, can result in serious second-degree burns, pain, disfigurement, and scarring. Scalding is most common in children and the elderly; over 100,000 people each year visit the emergency room following a scalding injury.

How can you prevent scalding injuries in your own home?

Turn down your hot water heater. If you have small children, your hot water heater should be turned down to 120 degrees to minimize the chances of scalding accidents in the bathroom.

Test bath water. Realize that children have more sensitive skin and that bath water shouldn't be above 100 degrees. Test the water with a sensitive area on your body, such as your inner wrist.

Never leave cooking food unattended. Children are curious and could make a grab for cooking pots and pans; be present in the kitchen when heating food and keep pot and pan handles turned away from the front of the stove.

Watch for cords connected to cooking appliances. Some scalding accidents take place when children pull the cords of coffee pots, slow cookers, deep fryers, and other cooking appliances.

Has your child or elderly loved one been involved in a scalding accident that you believe could have and should have been prevented? Speak with a Houston burn injury attorney about the accident and make certain that the at-fault party takes responsibility for the injury and its consequences.